After David had packed his clothes, he went down to the broodmare barn to say good-bye to Sunny. He had been spending most of his free time with Coco and her foal lately.
David walked over to the fence and whistled softly. Sunny lifted his head and bounded over to David, begging for a chin scratching. David smiled and obliged. Sunny was 6 weeks old now, and growing like a weed. He loved to romp around with the other foals, and made it known that he thought he was the boss.
�I�m going to miss you,� David whispered. Sunny whuffed softly, then nuzzled David�s pockets. It hadn�t taken him very long at all to figure out how wonderful carrots were. David pulled a small piece and fed it to him as Coco ambled up for her own piece.
After Sunny figured out he wasn�t getting any more carrot pieces, he went back to playing with the other foals. David leaned on the fence and watched, feeling a little drained and unable to get back to the house.
He hadn�t admitted it yet, but since he�d been tossed off of Movie, the fatigue and aching had returned with a vengeance. And it wasn�t getting any better like it had the time before. In fact, he was beginning to get worried. If things didn�t improve by the time they got back from Gulfstream, David knew he would need to see a doctor.
He sat and watched the foals romp around for about 20 minutes, then decided he needed to get back to the house before his mother started worrying. He also still needed to pack the books he wanted and make sure he had all of his shoes and boots ready to go. They would be loading up their Tahoe that night so they could leave early the next morning.
David slept soundly that night, and was ready to go when the horses were. He helped load King into the trailer, then climbed into his family�s vehicle and settled himself for the long drive to Florida.
It took three days to get there. They had run into a bad storm, and had stopped over for a day to protect the horses. But once they arrived at Gulfstream Park, they all settled into the familiar routine quickly. David was King�s official groom, and was very much wishing he was still the exercise rider. Stupid cast, he thought.
After King was settled in his stall, David removed the leg wraps and the blanket, and gave him a good brushing. King stood still, with one hind foot cocked, dozing peacefully. When David finished, he closed up King�s tack trunk and made his way outside to the waiting Tahoe.
Once inside the vehicle again, David leaned his head back and closed his eyes. The next thing he knew his mother was shaking him awake.
�We�re at the cottage, David.�
David stretched a little and climbed out. Mrs. Polly kept a couple of bungalows on a quiet street near the track for she and Ben�s family to stay in during the Florida racing season. David had fond memories of the little houses and the hours he�d spent playing in the yards.
Emily watched her son carefully as he went into the house. He looked exhausted, even though he�d done practically nothing. She noticed him slowing down as he hobbled back to the room he always slept in. She waited a few minutes for him to get settled and into his pajamas, then went in the room to check on him. He was already in bed, sound asleep.
She pulled the covers over him, turned the light off and gently closed the door as she left the room. She met Ben in the hall as he brought in the last of the suitcases. �He�s exhausted again, Ben. Worse than before.�
Ben set the suitcase down and sighed. �What on earth could be wrong?� he wondered out loud to no one in particular.
Emily wrapped her arms around her husband and matched his sigh with one of her own. �I�m starting to get scared, Ben. What if it�s his heart or cancer or something?�
Ben shook his head firmly. �If it was his heart, he�d have said something. He wasn�t that sick with that virus. Symptoms from something like cancer wouldn�t come and go like this.�
Emily nodded. One day David could be fine, and the next not even make it out of bed. The whole thing was so puzzling. �Since he isn�t riding right now, maybe he can get some extra rest while we�re here.�
Ben squeezed her. �Let�s hope that fixes it.� He then escorted his wife to the other bedroom, and the two retired for the night.
The next morning when David woke up, he peered at the clock and was shocked to find it was after 8! He�d missed morning works, feeding AND grooming! What is wrong with me? he wondered. This is not normal.
He untangled the covers and got dressed, then wandered down the hall to the kitchen, half expecting to find no one there, but not surprised when he saw his mother sitting at the table drinking a cup of coffee and reading the newspaper.
�Hungry?� she asked as he sat down.
David nodded. Emily went over to the stove and soon had a plate of scrambled eggs, sausage and pancakes in front of her son. �How come nobody woke me up this morning?� he asked as he poured syrup over his pancakes.
�Because you were so tired last night. Since you can�t ride, your father and I think it would be best if you just rest and sleep in.�
David frowned a little. �Only if I get to be at the track on time on the mornings that King works.�
Emily smiled. �Deal.� She ruffled his hair, then left the kitchen to finish unpacking her suitcase.
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Original Home
Story Corner Main